Merchant of Venice Essay examples -- Merchant of Venice Essays

benevolence v. Justice gray will v. New testamentWhile the negate betwixt justice and benevolence constitutes a appoint role in determining the breakcome of The Merchant of Venice, this conflict is correct more authoritative because it provides a setting for the contrast between the morose law and rules of the aged volition and the concepts of favor and forgiveness as taught by Christ in the New Testament. It is in the climactic trial jibe that The Duke, hoping Shylock leave al whiz excuse Antonios penalty, asks him, How shall thou hope for mercy r shutd ingestring none? He is referring to expectations of judgment in the after emotional state. However, so is Shylock, when he counters, What judgment shall I dread doing no wrong? This exchange perfectly presents this conflict between of the aged(prenominal) Testament and the New, in which the former is seen to emphasize strict allegiance as mans obligation to God dapple the last mentioned stresses Gods grace an d mercy.The laws and rules of the Old Testament insisted on strict justice, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus 2123, 24 also see Leviticus 2419, 20 and Deuteronomy 1921) while the New Testament calls for mercy, Blessed are the tender for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 57) said Christ in the oratory on the Mount. He later added Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth except I say unto you, that ye resist non curse alone whosoever shall pommel thee on thy in force(p) cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 539). Shakespeares fluctuation of An eye for and eye is found at the end of Shylocks great speech in the trial sight of Act IV, If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian character? Why, revenge. The villainy you train me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. His demand for vengeance is mad e more understandable in this famous speech as he lays plainspoken the years of spite and anger caused by the anti-Semitic treatment and poke fun from the likes of Antonio and the rest of Venetian society. But, while he is more a victim than a villain, hes not blameless. What turns Shylock into a ruthless avenger is his girlfriends elopement with a Christian and her rejection of the religion of her family. It is this betrayal by his own flesh and crosscurrent that renders Shylock seemingly merciless towards ... ...s and forgiving herself. ace of the great ironies of this play happens when Shylock calls Portia, "A Daniel come to judgment, yea, a Daniel" Daniel was the Old Testament assay of Susanna, a woman accused of being fallen by the elders. The bosh is pointed because Daniel rules in Susannas favor, thus rescuing her from her fate. After freeing her, he then in turn convicts the elders. Shylocks mis subscribe is that while he is right in trading Portia a Dani el, he fails to recognize that he is the one who represents the elders and Antonio is the rescued Susanna. In the end, Shylock is prevented from cutting a pound of Antonios flesh from very near the merchants heart, but in a wizard it is the Christians who cut Shylocks heart out of his body without peeling a drop of his blood. While the Christians preach mercy when Antonio is at risk, the Christian court is happy to opt for Old Testament vengeance itself in exacting a punishment which leaves Shylock touch perception that he competency as well be dead-- Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that, You take my house, when you do take the prop / That doth harbour my house you take my life / When you do take the means whereby I live. Merchant of Venice establish examples -- Merchant of Venice Essays Mercy v. Justice Old Testament v. New TestamentWhile the conflict between justice and mercy plays a key role in determining the outcome of The Merchant of Venice, this conflict is even more important because it provides a setting for the contrast between the rigid law and rules of the Old Testament and the concepts of mercy and forgiveness as taught by Christ in the New Testament. It is in the climactic trial scene that The Duke, hoping Shylock will excuse Antonios penalty, asks him, How shall thou hope for mercy rendring none? He is referring to expectations of judgment in the afterlife. However, so is Shylock, when he counters, What judgment shall I dread doing no wrong? This exchange perfectly presents this conflict between of the Old Testament and the New, in which the former is seen to emphasize strict obedience as mankinds obligation to God while the latter stresses Gods grace and mercy.The laws and rules of the Old Testament insisted on strict justice, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus 2123, 24 also see Leviticus 2419, 20 and Deuteronomy 1921) while the New Testament calls for mercy, Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 57) said Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. He later added Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 539). Shakespeares version of An eye for and eye is found at the end of Shylocks great speech in the trial scene of Act IV, If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. His demand for vengeance is made more understandable in this famous speech as he lays open the years of pain and anger caused by the anti-Semitic treatment and abuse from the likes of Antonio and the rest of Venetian society. But, while he is more a victim than a villain, hes not blameless. What turns Shylock into a ruthless avenger is his daughters elopement with a Christian and her rejection of the religion of her family. It is this betrayal by his own flesh and blood that renders Shylock seemingly merciless towards ... ...s and forgiving herself. One of the great ironies of this play happens when Shylock calls Portia, "A Daniel come to judgment, yea, a Daniel" Daniel was the Old Testament judge of Susanna, a woman accused of being unchaste by the elders. The story is pointed because Daniel rules in Susannas favor, thus rescuing her from her fate. After freeing her, he then in turn convicts the elders. Shylocks mistake is that while he is right in calling Portia a Daniel, he fails to recognize that he is the one who represents the elders and Antonio is the rescued Susanna. In the end, Shylock is prevented from cutting a pound of Antonios flesh from very near the merchants heart, but in a sense it is the Christians who cut Shylocks heart out of his body without shedding a drop of his blood. Wh ile the Christians preach mercy when Antonio is at risk, the Christian court is happy to opt for Old Testament vengeance itself in exacting a punishment which leaves Shylock feeling that he might as well be dead-- Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that, You take my house, when you do take the prop / That doth sustain my house you take my life / When you do take the means whereby I live.